THE

ANGLO-SAXON SAGAS;

AN EXAMINATION OF THEIR

VALUE AS AIDS TO

HISTORY;

A SEQUEL TO THE "HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF

TO JOSEPH MAYER.

MY DEAR SIR,

TRANGE as the theory which is advocated in the following pages may appear, it is advanced with an entire conviction of its truth. In part,

-as far as it relates to the Scyldings and their settlements in Northumbria,—it has been already submitted to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and an abstract from my papers, accompanied by illustrative notes from the pen of their able secretary, Mr. Longstaffe, has appeared in their Transactions. These notes are incorporated in the present work, together with other valuable information kindly furnished by him to me.

Under any circumstances, we have reason to be proud of these noble remains of the poetry of our forefathers; but our interest in them must be greatly increased, when we discover that they are based, not on mythological superstitions, but on historical facts; that they relate to a period, not of inde